Spatial structure of soil-and-litter dwelling microarthropod community on catena in steppe Trans-Volga region

摘要

The spatial structure of an oribatid and collembolan community was investigated along a transect placed on a catena, from hygrophyte meadow to dry steppe. Processing of the data obtained using ANOVA, correlation, and gradient analyses showed that the microarthropod community consists of local association which are more strongly pronounced for oribatid mites. Contrary to springtails, the local mite associations conform to geomorphological elements of the catena slope and plant associations. Some topoecogroups of Oribatei and Cllembola are distinguished: they can be considered as hygrophilous, mesophilous, xero-mesophilous, and xerophilous groups. The distribution of all characteristics of the microarthropod community by catena gradient is different in oribatid mites and springtails.